Recoil mechanism



May 29, 192s. 1,671,410

C. M. CRONKHITE RECOIL MECHANISM Filed Oct. 29,'1925 rammed May a9, 192e.

cHARLEsM. CRONKHITE, on GLn'rmAiaE,` CALIFORNIA. -v

- 'REcoIL MECHAN'ISM.

Application sied october 29, 1925. serial No.{e-,e 14.

My invention relates to recoil mechanisms lof the character embodied in my co-,pending application Serial No. 50,918, led August 18, 1925, and a purpose of my invention is 5 the provision of a recoil mechanism which is designed and operable to eliminate the sudden checking of the upward rebounding movement of a vehicle body and the attendant, objections existing in the recoil mechanism embodied in my aforesaid application, and by interposing a yieldable connection between the ratchet member and the ratchet collar `or vbrake drum, which functions to permit movement ofthe brake drum independently of the ratchet member,

but whichl is yieldingly resisted by the con` nection so as vto retard such movement vof the drum, thereby graduating the checking action of the mechanism and allowing the vehicle body to rise to its 'normal elevation without jerking movement.

I will describe only one form of recoil mechanism embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

.In the drawings Figure 1 is a view showing in perspec tive one form of recoil mechanismembodying `my invention in applied position'to al i vehicle, the cover of the mechanism being removed to show parts notfotherwise revealed; f I

Figure 2 is a view showing 1n perspective the fixed bearing memberof the mechanism lshown in Figure 1;

Figure4 3 is a .perspective view showing. the cover, nuts and bolts for securing the' cover in place. f

Referring speciically to the drawings, 40 my invention in its present. embodiment is shown applied" to the viframe 15 of a motor vehicle, one vof the springs of the vehicle beingindicated at 16, and the front axle at The recoil mechanism comprises a bearing member 18, having an attachingA ange 19, 'by which the member 'can be rigidlysecured to the 'frame 15 to extend horizontally lfrom the outer side thereof. Keyed to the bearing member is a toothed ratchet member 20, and surrounding the ratchet member is a collar 21 having cir- `cumferentially spaced radial enlargements or projections 22 formed with pockets 23 for engagement with the ratchet memberloy means of Ysprings25. These dogs `all extend in the same direction -with respect to the ratchetmember so as'to permit free rota# tion of the collar'on the member inone di- 'opening inwardly,y and slidably )receiving i Vdogs 24 which are normally urgedfinwardly rection but to -lock'the collar against movement in the other direction. e

Surrounding j the collar-21 is Aa brake drum 26V having a smooth outer periphery but provided on its rearperiphery at circum't'ei'entially spaced points withenlargements or projections 27 The arrangement of the projections 27 is such that each projection is disposed lbetween any two ,ad-

28 are employed, andthe arrangement or the springs is such as toyieldingly resist the movement of the drum in a counterclockwisedirection as when viewed `in Figure V'1. It is to be noted,however, that the inner periphery of the drum is formed with shoulders. 26a which Aformk abutments adapted toengage rthe collar yprojections 22 for limiting the rotative'movement.` of the drumV in' a 'counter-clockwise direction.'l

a brake band 80 carrying a linerl and l'iaving one end formed with a flange 32 abutting a shoulder-33 of a pocket 34, while A casing 29 surroundsy the drum 26,3 and l i interposedlbetween the casing and drum' is the opposite end of the band is secured to a- `bolt 35 extending fromf the' pocket and loosely through lthe casing, withv nuts'` 36 lthreaded on 'its-outer end and a springV 37 interposed between the nuts andthe casing for exerting a `tension onthe brake band," i

which can bc vVaried by an adjustment of the nuts. Y a cover 38 removably secured in place by The casing is normally closed' byy a bolt 39 and a `nut 40 threaded on the end "of 'the bearing member 18V which projects bracket .42 secured to the axleV 17 byl .meansof a link 43. The connection of the ends of the link is made adjustable by means of nuts 44, and by means of the link connection it willbe understood that thev arm 41 is free to move downwardly 'fromthe n `drum and collar rotatingin a clockwise direction., it being understood that the drum projections engage'the collar projections to cause rotation of the collar with the drum, and 'that the vcollar is free to rotate on the bearing member because ofthe arrangement otratchet teeth and dogs as previously described. Upon/upward movement ot' the vehicle frame the casing 29 rotates in the opposite direction, tending .to carry with it v.the brake drum 126. Duringl the rst part of this movement the drum yields to the notative action of the casinguntil its .shoulders 26a abut the collar projections 22, when the dogs 24, in engaging the ratchet meni- -ber 20, lock the collar against rotation and thus prevent further rotation of the drum, so that the brake liner is caused to have braking engagement with the periphery of the drum to retard the rotative movement of the casing 29.' In this manner thev upward movement of the vehicle Iframe is subjected to a graduated checking action which allows the vehicle bod to rise to its normal elevation without jer ing movement.

Although I have herein shown and described. only one form of recoil mechanism embodying my invention, it is to be under- :stood that various changes and modifications inay be ymade herein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spi-rit and scope of the appended claims.

Iclaini: f 1. recoil mechanism comprising a collar, means by which the collar is adapted for rotation in one direction only on a vehicle frame, .a brake drum connected tothe collar to notate, with the collar, yieldable means for resisting rotation of the drum in the opposite direction, and a braking element adapted for rotation and for connection with a vehicle :axle to rotate in one direction .or the other according ,as the vehicle frame moves upwardly or downwardly, said braking element having braking engagement with said drum.

2. A recoil mechanism comprising ay collar, means by which the collar is adapted for rotation in one direction only on a vehicle or 'the` other.

fram-e, projections on the collar, a drum surrounding the collar and having projections -coeoperating with the collar projections to cause rotation of the collar with the drum in one direction, yieldable elements interposed between tlie collar and drum projections for yieldingly resistingrotative movement of the drum on the collar in the other. direction, a. braking element engaging the drum, and means by `which the braking element is adapted to be connected to the axle of the vehicle so that as they vehicle frame lar against rotation on the member in one direction, projections4 on the collar, .a drum surrounding the collar and having projections adapted to engage .the projections of the collar to cause rotation of the collar with the drum in one direction, springs'interposed between the collar and drum projections for yieldingly resisting rotation of the drum in the other direction, a braking element engaging the drum, and means by which said braking element is adapted to be connected to the axle of the vehicle so that as the vehicle frame moves upwardly or downwardly said element will be rotated in one `direction v 4. A recoil mechanism comprising la mein` ber adapted for rotative .movement on ya vehicle fra-me, a second member having braking engagement with the iirst member, means by which 'the second memberis. adapted to be 105 connected to the axleofthervehiclie so that as the vehicle moves upwardlyor downwardly the second member will be rotated in` one `direction or the other, means-,for locking the first member against lrotation'inone direc- 110 tion so that as thevehicle frame moves upwardly thesecond member will havebraking engagement with the lirst member toarrest so that as the vehicle moves upwardly or downwardly the second member will. be rotated in one direction or the other, means for l,

looking the first membei` against rotation in means for allowing movement of the first one direction so that as the vehicle frame member in said directionv before the locking moves upwardly the second member will means becomes effective, and acting to offer 10 have braking engagement with the irst gradually increasing resist-ance to the up- 5 member to arrest the' upward movement of ward movement of the frame, whereby the v .the vehicle frame, andyieldable means inter-y upward movement will be gradually. checked. posed between the first member and locking` CHARLES M. CRONKHIT'E. 

